Chapter 16 - Neela #2
“Not a chance,” Prax snaps. “We’ll be sleeping outside either way. Good thing I salvaged one sleep cocoon from the Bakartia after you sliced the other one.”
“Only one? Where are you going to sleep, Kitty?” Kiran asks, narrowing his eyes.
“I’ll let you puzzle that one out, Human. But don’t sprain anything thinking too hard,” Prax smirks.
“Enough, both of you!” I cut in. “Great, we’re leaving—but where?”
While we talk, Prax has already packed everything from his ship into his big waterproof bag.
“Let me show you the route,” he says, calmly activating the living room screen. He taps a few commands, and a Martian colony map appears.
“We’re here. Arabia Terra is southeast. But first, we’ll head about thirty miles east of Cydonia’s center. Right here.”
“That’s outside the authorized zone,” Kiran notes.
“Exactly. That’s why I think Vassili’s ‘guests’ land there. They probably use snowbikes to reach the Palace carefully, staying under the radar.”
“Or they use cargo haulers. They’re rare but perfect for big, bulky stuff,” Kiran adds. “But why that spot specifically?”
“Because some of the atmospheric traces lead right there. I’d bet his shady friends park nearby when they come to make deals.
I also saw deeper trails near Elysium Planitia—only reachable by air.
I don’t know what’s out there, but there have been multiple incursions over the past few Polarian weeks. ”
“That region is—”
“Yeah, yeah. Forbidden. I know,” Prax cuts him off. “Time to break out of your comfort zone, kids. Start thinking solar system-wide. Or better yet, galaxy-wide. That’s the scale of the people hunting you.”
“Don’t talk to me like I’m a moron, Kitty!” Kiran snaps. “We can manage just fine without you.”
“Do as you wish. But I’m taking your sister with me, like it or not. She’s not safe here. These people tried to kill her—and they’ll try again.”
“I’ll come if I want to,” I interject, annoyed he didn’t ask.
“Oh really?” he raises a brow. “So what do you want? Go beg your Regent for mercy? Or run off alone?”
“Maybe she doesn’t have to run,” Kiran says. “I can protect her.”
“No, you can’t,” Prax and I say in unison.
Because we both know the only way to keep Kiran and his little family safe is for me to disappear. If they think he’s still clueless, they won’t target him.
Decision made, I spring into action.
“Kiran, go home and message channel 59. Pretend I was headed your way and never showed. Make something up.”
He’s pale. Scared for me. But he understands—he has to protect Meg and Sanjay.
“Are you sure? What will happen to you?”
“I trust Prax. If anyone can help us survive out there, it’s him.”
“He better. Or I’ll find him and—”
“Relax, Human. I’ll take care of her.”
Kiran nods, resigned, and I grab a change of clothes.
“How will we stay in touch?”
“Oh right!” Prax exclaims. “Kiran, I unlocked a few things in your housing system. Here’s how we’ll communicate.
It’s more like a mailbox—no real-time contact.
There are some recharge stations along the way to Arabia Terra, and a few transit units for colonists between cities.
We won’t sleep there—too risky—but we can leave messages. ”
There goes my hope of safe overnight stops…
Prax opens an obscure program from Earth’s archives. We stare in disbelief at a file on… hermit crab mating habits?
“This one’s rarely accessed. Only one doc in the folder. The Confed locked your systems in view-only mode, but I’ve disabled that. You can now add, edit, and delete from any unit.”
Problem is, the keyboard is unreadable. Some kind of alien script.
“Slow down, Kitty. This is total cat-scratch to me,” Kiran groans.
“Ah, sorry—it’s Catanian, the Confed’s writing system. My implant lets me read and speak it.”
“That’s nice, but we don’t have implants. What now?”
“Unfortunately, this is the only language accepted for Polarian systems. You’ll need to memorize this code to unlock the interface. After that, you’re good.”
We study his demonstration carefully. The code’s short. With a few tricks, we learn it fast. I’m relieved we’ll still be able to stay in touch.
Kiran practices it a few times, then turns to me.
“I need to get back to Meg and Sanjay. Take care of yourself, shrimp,” he says, hugging me tight.
“You too. Protect them. And remember—you know nothing about the Palace.”
“Of course. Be safe. And hey, Kitty—why that folder, exactly?”
“Like I said, no one ever checks it. But it’s also important,” Prax grins, eyebrow raised.
“Hermit crabs? That’s your idea of important?”
“No—the lesson in the file. Size matters! Did you know male crabs with longer penises are more likely to find a mate? A bigger, longer organ lets them mate from farther away, reducing the chance of losing their precious shell.”
I nearly choke laughing at Kiran’s horrified expression. He looks like he bit into a lemon.
I meet Prax’s mischievous gaze, and somehow… the future doesn’t seem so bleak. Heading into the snowy unknown with this male by my side? Almost feels… exhilarating.
“Go,” Prax tells Kiran. “Once you’re home, I’ll broadcast those photos your sister took on every screen in Cydonia.
Your leaders will be too busy scrambling to notice you or your family.
Oh, and take my dice. Get used to the symbols.
Next time we play Ryu no Saikoro, it’ll be with those. And I won’t go easy on you.”
“Thanks,” Kiran says, eyes glassy. “I’ll return them in person. Good luck.”
We watch him ride off. It’s the first time we’ve ever been apart.
I stand there, on my doorstep. The wind tugs at my hair as I stare at the shrinking silhouette of my brother.
The sun’s already setting, bathing Mars in red-gold hues.
My chest tightens. How many days, weeks, months will pass before I see him again?
Before I see Meg or my sweet little nephew?
I think of our shared laughter, our wild dreams. Now I’m walking into the unknown. Leaving them behind. And it kills me.
Kiran turns back one last time, offers a sad smile. I return it, my throat too tight for words. So I just watch… until he’s gone.
I close my eyes. Exhale.
And silently promise him: I’ll think of you every day. I’ll send you strength, across the stars.
A single tear escapes.
Maybe that’s why Prax leans in and whispers:
“Don’t worry. When it comes to size, I always deliver. Whether we’re talking claws, reflexes… or other assets.”